Project IV

Building bridges between senior citizens and students in the elderly care in the EU

Based on the very good experiences and results received in the “Volunteering possibilities to support senior and socially excluded citizens in the EU” project which was financed by the Europe for Citizens programme – initiated and organised by the Olomouc Region (Czech Republic), Zadar County (Croatia) and Kaunas Region (Lithuania), elderly care network cooperation was continued with the new project “Building bridges between senior citizens and students in the elderly care in the EU”. The new project consists of three conferences organised on 12-15 May 2014 in Päijät-Häme (Finland); 15-18 September 2014 in Talsi Municipality (Latvia) and on 11-14 May 2015 in Silesian Voivodship (Poland).

The partner network promotes values, rights and opportunities for EU senior citizens. Project partners improve cooperation between education/research and working life. All conferences contribute to social cohesion and attract young people and students to work in elderly care sector as EU suffers under severe youth unemployment. Senior citizens´ participation in the democratic life of the EU is increased in interactive panel discussions with EP election candidates and local/regional decision makers, in conference activities and during Europe Days. Working practices and civic participation must be starting points when building new Europe of elderly care with providers of education without further institutionalization. Network contributes to development of future elderly care education and collects best practices from participating regions into publication for implementing. For future cooperation a project team will be set up to search new financing opportunities for this network. Partners will sign joint twinning agreement in social affairs by the end of this project.